Diwali 2026 in Seychelles: Dates, Lakshmi Puja Muhurat and Temples

Quick answer: in Seychelles, Lakshmi Puja (main Diwali) is on Sunday 8 November 2026, and the Victoria muhurat is 6:40 PM to 8:31 PM Seychelles time (UTC+4). Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November, Govardhan Puja on Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November. The same dates apply across all the islands. The Hindu community is small but well established, centred on the Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple in Victoria.

Editor's note (1 November 2026): HinduTone calculated these local dates from Drik Panchang tithi times using Drik's own rules for each festival, and checked our method against Drik's published dates for 15 countries. The Lakshmi Puja muhurat is the Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna that falls within Pradosh Kaal, following the Drik method, worked out for Victoria's own sunset. Seychelles sits close to a boundary this year: most calendars give the dates shown here, but some local calendars may list the neighbouring day, so follow your temple. We do not list event schedules, because they change every year. Temples and community groups usually announce Diwali programmes a few weeks ahead; check their websites and social pages.

Diwali 2026 dates in Seychelles

These are the five days of Diwali for Victoria. Seychelles uses a single time zone (UTC+4), so the dates are the same on Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and the outer islands.

Naraka Chaturdashi and Lakshmi Puja fall on the same day this year. In Seychelles time, Amavasya (the new moon tithi) runs from Sun 8 Nov, 9:57 AM to Mon 9 Nov, 11:01 AM, so it is in force through the whole evening of Sunday 8 November, which is what decides the Lakshmi Puja date. For reference, Drik Panchang gives Amavasya as 11:27 AM on 8 November to 12:31 PM on 9 November IST. Chaturdashi ends late on the morning of 8 November, which is why the early bath of Naraka Chaturdashi and the evening Lakshmi Puja share a date.

Diwali 2026 timings for Victoria

Seychelles has one main town, so the input data covers Victoria. On Praslin and La Digue the times differ by only a few minutes; use Victoria's timings with a little margin.

Lakshmi Puja muhurat explained

Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening, in Pradosh Kaal, the window of roughly two and a half hours that begins at sunset. In Victoria on Sunday 8 November 2026, sunset is at 6:10 PM and Pradosh Kaal runs from 6:10 PM to 8:31 PM.

Within Pradosh, the most favoured moment is when Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna is rising. Vrishabha is a fixed (sthir) sign, and worship done in a fixed lagna is believed to make Lakshmi's blessings stay in the home. In Victoria, Vrishabha rises during Pradosh and the overlap gives the muhurat of 6:40 PM to 8:31 PM.

If you cannot begin at 6:40 PM, any time in the full Pradosh Kaal from 6:10 PM to 8:31 PM is still appropriate. Many families light the first diyas at sunset, do the main puja in the muhurat and then spend the rest of the evening with family and neighbours.

Do not use India's published muhurat. Seychelles is one and a half hours behind India and sunset falls at a different time, so the Indian clock times do not apply here. The times on this page are already in Seychelles local time.

Hindu temples in Seychelles for Diwali

Seychelles has a small Hindu community and, as far as we could confirm, one public Hindu temple. We have listed only what we could verify; there is no need to look further than this to find your community at Diwali.

Victoria, Mahé

• Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple – Victoria. A Ganesha temple in the South Indian Dravidian style, first consecrated in 1992 and later renovated, and widely described as the only public Hindu temple in Seychelles.
• Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam – Victoria. The association, founded in 1984, that manages the Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple and organises its festivals.
• Seychelles Hindu Council – Mahé. A community body that has organised public Diwali gatherings in recent years.
• Indian Association Seychelles – Mahé. A community association that has supported Diwali celebrations alongside the Hindu Council.

If you live on Praslin, La Digue or another island, we could not confirm a temple there. A home puja is entirely proper, and many families travel to Victoria for a temple visit on another day of the festival. Temples and community groups usually announce Diwali programmes a few weeks ahead; check their websites and social pages.

How Diwali is celebrated in Seychelles

People of Indian origin have lived in Seychelles since the colonial period, with Tamil settlers and traders among the earliest arrivals. Today the community is small, mostly Tamil Hindu, and closely woven into Seychellois life. Diwali, often called Deepavali by Tamil families, is one of its main festivals, alongside the Vinayagar Chathurthi chariot procession through Victoria.

In recent years the Hindu Council has held a public Diwali celebration in Victoria with cultural performances, prayers and food, attended by people of many faiths, and the President of Seychelles has sent Diwali greetings to the Hindu community. At the temple, Diwali typically brings special abhishekam and archanai, lamp lighting and prasadam. At home, families clean and decorate, draw kolam or rangoli at the door, light oil lamps and share sweets with neighbours.

Among Tamil families, the main Deepavali morning is marked with an early oil bath, new clothes and visits to relatives, while North Indian families focus on the evening Lakshmi Puja. Both traditions are welcome, and in a small community they often meet at the same gathering. Any Sikh or Jain families on the islands also mark the season, with Bandi Chhor Divas and Jain Diwali for Mahavira's nirvana.

Simple Lakshmi Puja at home

With only one temple in the country, many Seychellois Hindus celebrate at home. A simple puja is enough:

1. Clean the house during the day and draw a rangoli or kolam at the entrance. Light a lamp at the doorway at sunset.
2. Set a clean cloth on a low table or shelf. Place images or murtis of Lakshmi and Ganesha, a kalash of water topped with mango or betel leaves and a coconut, and a plate of rice.
3. Begin by worshipping Ganesha, then invoke Lakshmi. Offer flowers, kumkum and turmeric, incense, a ghee lamp, sweets and fruit. Coins or jewellery can be placed before the goddess.
4. Chant a simple mantra such as Om Shreem Mahalakshmyai Namah, or read the Lakshmi Ashtakam if you know it. Finish with aarti.
5. Light diyas around the house, on windowsills and at the door, and share prasad with family and neighbours.

Aim to do the main worship between 6:40 PM and 8:31 PM in Victoria. If that is not possible, anywhere in Pradosh Kaal is fine.

Practical tips

• Lakshmi Puja falls on a Sunday, which makes the evening easier for most families. Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj fall on Monday and Tuesday, so plan around work.
• We could not confirm that Diwali is a public holiday in Seychelles for 2026. Check the official 2026 holiday list from the Government of Seychelles.
• Sunset in early November is around 6:10 PM. November is the start of the north-west monsoon, so evenings can be humid with passing showers; protect outdoor diyas from rain and wind.
• Fireworks rules are set by the local authorities. Check before buying or lighting any, and keep lamps away from curtains and dry plants.
• If you want a priest for a home puja or a special archana at the temple, ask the temple well in advance, especially for the main days.
• Sweets and puja items such as camphor, ghee and kumkum can be harder to find outside Victoria. Buy them early or bring them back from a trip.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali 2026 in Seychelles?

The main day, Lakshmi Puja, is Sunday 8 November 2026 in Seychelles. Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November, Naraka Chaturdashi also on Sunday 8 November, Govardhan Puja on Monday 9 November and Bhai Dooj on Tuesday 10 November. Most calendars give these dates, but some local calendars may list a neighbouring day; follow your temple.

What is the Lakshmi Puja muhurat in Victoria?

In Victoria the Lakshmi Puja muhurat is 6:40 PM to 8:31 PM on Sunday 8 November 2026, Seychelles time (UTC+4). This is the Vrishabha (Taurus) lagna inside Pradosh Kaal, which runs from sunset at 6:10 PM to 8:31 PM.

Is there a Hindu temple in Seychelles?

Yes. The Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Temple in Victoria, on Mahé, is a Ganesha temple run by the Seychelles Hindu Kovil Sangam. It is generally described as the country's only public Hindu temple, so it is the natural place to gather for Diwali.

Is Diwali a public holiday in Seychelles?

We could not confirm that Diwali is a public holiday in Seychelles for 2026. Check the official 2026 holiday list published by the Government of Seychelles, and your employer's policy, before planning time off.

Does the timing change on Praslin or La Digue?

The dates are the same on every island, as the whole country uses one time zone. Sunset on Praslin and La Digue is only a few minutes different from Victoria, so the Victoria muhurat is a sound guide, but leave a small margin either side.

Can I light diyas and fireworks for Diwali in Seychelles?

Diyas and candles at home are fine with sensible fire safety. Rules on fireworks are set by the local authorities, so check before buying or lighting any, and be careful near dry vegetation and thatched or wooden buildings.

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